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Subcommittee proposes 8:00 a.m. high school start and two-tier bus plan to shift wake times later
Summary
A school start-times subcommittee recommended an 8:00 a.m. start for Westford Academy and a two-tier transportation plan that combines some K'5 routes to enable later high-school start times while limiting additional transportation costs; public survey and forums are planned.
A subcommittee of the Westford School Committee proposed shifting Westford Academy's start time to 8:00 a.m. and moving to a two-tier transportation model in which selected elementary routes are combined to allow later secondary start times while avoiding a major increase in bus fleet or transportation costs.
The recommendation, presented by subcommittee members including Bill McDonald and supported by the district's transportation director and contractor Transfinder and D Bus Company, emerged after an efficiency study of multiple routing scenarios. The subcommittee said only one scenario met the group's constraints on cost and ride time.
Why this matters
Later high-school start times are linked in peer-reviewed research to increased adolescent sleep and improved mental and academic outcomes. The subcommittee said the district must balance the potential student-health benefits against transportation constraints and any added cost to the town budget.
What the proposal would change
- Start times: Westford Academy, Blanchard and Stony Brook would shift from a current 7:35 a.m. start to…
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